BioBags and FSC Certification may not be household terms just yet, but they are getting some use at the King County Library System! Because environmentally friendly practices are important to library patrons and staff, the King County Library System is introducing eco-friendly bags into libraries, and also is in the process of certifying the in-house print shop.

Transitioning to Eco-Friendly Bags

Offering patrons eco-friendly bags for carrying their library materials is another way KCLS is choosing to adopt greener practices. A supply of eco-friendly BioBags was ordered in early March 2008 after staff explored available options to traditional plastic bags. The eco-friendly bags, called BioBags, are 100 percent compostable and biodegradable. BioBags are produced from cornstarch and vegetable oil, rather than polyethylene, which is used to produce most plastic bags. To learn more, please visit http://www.kcls.org/research/infogreen/bio_bags.cfm.

Applying for FSC Certification

Motivated by a commitment to ensure the best possible use of natural resources, KCLS is applying to have its in-house print shop certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The certification will verify that print materials produced for our libraries adhere to the highest environmental standards. KCLS may be the first library system to gain this type of certification. To learn more, please visit http://www.kcls.org/research/infogreen/kcls_printshop.cfm.

To learn more about green living and other related topics, check out a special collection of green materials in the KCLS collection, called infoGreen, by visiting www.kcls.org/research/infogreen/.